Visit of the German Foreign Minister to Pakistan

Islamabad, March 12, 2019 (PPI-OT): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at the Foreign Office today. The two Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment and educational spheres.

During the talks, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. The Foreign Minister welcomed the entry of German automobile producer Volkswagen into the Pakistani market and investment by Siemens in power generation and medical sectors. He also invited other German companies to take advantage of the investor friendly policies of Pakistan.

The two sides exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. The Foreign Minister briefed his German counterpart on the Indian aggression against Pakistan’s territorial integrity, which was in violation of the international law. Pakistan responded in self-defence and acted with restraint. Pakistan has taken a number of steps to de-escalate tensions with India, including release of the captured Indian pilot, reactivation of hotline between DG Military Operations and meeting at Atari in connection with opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.

Underscoring the importance of regional peace, the Foreign Minister reiterated that such dynamics were perils of the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the atrocities perpetrated by the security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The Foreign Minister apprised his German counterpart on the positive role played by Pakistan in facilitating the ongoing talks between the US and the Taliban. He added that Pakistan had always advocated that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict. A politically negotiated settlement led and owned by Afghans is the only sustainable solution.

Foreign Minister Maas agreed to work together for deepening of bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade and investment. He stated that Germany was supportive of people centric agenda of the government in the fields of health, education, and human development, which was also in line with the German development programme.

Foreign Minister Maas appreciated Pakistan’s overtures towards normalizing the situation by the offer of dialogue to India to resolve all outstanding issues. He added that it was important that India should improve situation in Kashmir. He also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in the Afghan peace process and steps taken by Pakistan towards promotion of regional peace and stability. Foreign Minister Maas is on a two-day visit to Pakistan from 11-12 March 2019, which is also his first official visit to Pakistan.